Details have emerged on how leaders of Okoloba community and Okuama community, both in Delta State, signed a peace accord before the dastardly killing of soldiers in the State.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Okoloba is located in Bomadi local government area while Okuama is located in Ughelli South local government area, both of Delta State.
It was gathered that leaders from both communities had signed the peace accord five weeks before some youths ambushed and killed 16 officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army.
While it is yet to be confirmed those who carried out the dastardly act, those killed, the Commanding Officer (CO), two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers, were said to be on a peace mission to Okuama when they were ambushed and killed.
The peace accord, it was gathered, was brokered by the Special Adviser to Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor.
The peace accord followed the crisis which recently erupted between both riverine communities over boundary issues.
Chief Uzor said during the signing of the peace accord that the administration of Governor Oborevwori will not tolerate leaders who are brewing crises in their domains.
While signing the peace accord, Chief Uzor charged leaders of the communities to avoid making comments capable of hitting up the polity, stressing that leaders who are brewing crises in their domains would be made to face the consequences of their actions.
The Governor’s SA observed that both communities had been living together in harmony and urged them to continue to keep the peaceful relationship they have enjoyed over time.
Uzor also encouraged the people to maintain laid down principles guiding them in the past, emphasising that dialogue remained the proper way of resolving the issue.
On the issue of the boundary dispute, Uzor urged the communities to maintain the consensus earlier established by the traditional ruler of Akugbene Mein Kingdom and avoid creating unnecessary tension in the area.
He warned that any community leader going against set down rules and regulations will be prosecuted by security agents.
On the alleged killing of some residents of Okuama community, the Special Adviser urged the people to remain calm, adding that security agencies will investigate the issue and bring anyone found wanting to book.
During signing of the peace accord, Uzor had urged the indigenes of both communities to support security personnels with vital information needed to effectively resolve the issue to fast track development in the area.
“On the issue of the matter, the police have taken a very strategic step which is the function of police. You know the matter is now in two ways: the criminal aspect and the peace resolution aspect.
“The criminal aspect is being handled by the police, guarding everywhere. We should live within the limit of the law. We should not be doing things that will be escalating problems in the community,” Uzor said.
Present during signing of the peace accord were the members representing
Bomadi constituency in the State House of Assembly, Boyo Preyor and his counterpart in Ughelli South, Festus Utuama.
Others present during signing of the peace accord were the Chairmen of both local government areas, representatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and representatives from both communities.
Five weeks after the peace pact was signed, it would be reported that a Commanding Officer (CO), two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers, were ambushed and killed.
The identity of those killed have been revealed to include, Lt. Col. AH Ali (Commanding Officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion); Major SD Shafa; Major DE Obi; Capt. U Zakari, and Sgt. Yahaya Saidu.
Others included Cpl Yahaya Danbaba; Cpl Kabir Bashir; LCpl Bulus Haruna; LCpl Sole Opeyemi; LCpl Bello Anas; LCpl Hamman Peter; LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi; Pte Alhaji Isah; Pte Clement Francis; Pte Abubakar Ali; Pte Ibrahim Adamu, and Pte Adamu Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has authorised the military high command to fish out those who killed military officers and men in Delta.